Ochikubo-8
This site gives it a try to read, understand and enjoy a story written in classical Japanese more than a thousand years ago.
Tale of Ochikubo-Hime is a Japanese version of Cinderella which should entertain readers of all ages.
Your joining in this try will be highly welcomed and greatly appreciated.
(Please be informed that this site provides content based on the personal views and opinions of the author of this site.)
Dictionaries and books generally used in this site
『落窪物語』（Tale of Ochikubo）（稲賀敬二）（Inaga Keiji）（新潮社 2017）（Shinchosha）
『全訳読解古語辞典（第五版）』（小型版）（Dictionary for Classical Japanese for Reading and Interpretation, 5th edition, pocket type）（鈴木一雄 小池清治 倉田実 石埜敬子 森野崇 髙山善行）（Suzuki Kazuo Koike Seiji Kurata Minoru Isino Keiko Morino Takaki Takayama Yoshiyuki）（三省堂 2021）（Sanseido Co., Ltd.）
『ルミナス和英辞典（第2版）』（Luminous Japanese-English Dictionary）（小島義郎 竹林滋 中尾啓介 増田秀夫）（Kojima Yoshiro Takebayashi Shigeru Nakao Keisuke Masuda Hideo）（研究社 2006）（Kenkyusha Co., Ltd.）
『ニュースクール英和辞典（第二版）』（Kenkyusha New School English-Japanese Dictionary, 2nd edition）（廣瀬和清 伊部哲）（Hirose Kazukiyo Ibe Satoshi）（研究社 2019）（Kenkyusha Co., Ltd.）
The original text of Tale of Ochikubo can be found in the website below:
（https://www.komazawa-u.ac.jp/~hagi/txt_ochikubomonogatari.txt）
First of all, we see the characters of this episode of Tale of Ochikubo-Hime.
Characters of this episode
Akoki tries to arouse interest in the letter from Ukon’no Shoushou out of Princess Ochikubo in vain. She seems to agree to the husband’s opinion and is likely to cooperate with him.
Ochikubonokimi (Ochikubo-Hime, Princess Ochikubo) seems to be lost in her hopeless world and would not listen to even the advice of Akoki. Her father who is insensitive to her (and maybe others’) feelings flings a sharp criticisim about her look directly on her without malice even out of good intent in his own way, which humiliates the Princess driven into silence.
Tachiwaki seems to have a will to devote himself for the happiness of Princess Ochikubo with enthusiasm, which may please his wife, Akoki.
Chunagon (Father of Ochikuno-Hime) is not a bad person but maybe a bit dull. He seems to be unable to guess or imagine what other people may feel or think. Such character of his hurts Princess Ochikubo.
Father of Princess Ochikubo who has been seemingly indifferent to the Princess may have had a mind to worry about her future, being aware of her age for marriage. His words are rough but he tries to do his best (only by giving freedom to choose any man at her will as he commits himself to the daughters of the Princess’s stepmother) so that the Princess will lead a bright and happy life. His affection for the Princess seems to be realized only in upsetting words not in action. But one of the hurdles for the Princess’s marriage (with Ukon’no Shoushou) may have been removed (as she can get married to Ukon’no Shoushou if she has a will to do).
Culture and Society of Heian Period
The maids and servants of a noble man and woman may have done anything for their master and mistress beyond the boundary of public and private affairs. Such tendency may have arisen from the system in which they often grow up together since children with their social relation (status) maintained. Their loyalty seems to be developed at their young age and sustained even after death of their master and mistress. Such loyalty may include the actions for a happy private life of their master and mistress. In the case of Tale of Ochikubo-Hime, Akoki and Tachiwaki, the couple of a maid and a servant, will cooperate in bringing about a marriage with reciprocal merits between their respective mistress and master. Especially Princess Ochikubo should be saved from the current adversity. Who or what will open the closed heart of Princess Ochikubo? How will it be broken free?
Let’s look up the classical Japanese languages below from the text of this episode.
[Classical Japanese Languages Picked Out]
「つとめて、おとど、樋殿におはしけるを、落窪さしのぞいて見たまへば、なりのいと悪しくて、さすがに髪のいとうつくしげにてかかりてゐたるを、あはれとや見たまひけむ」
（Tsutomete, Otodo, Hidono-ni-Owashi-keru-wo, Ochikubo-Sashinozoite-Mitamaeba, Nari-no-Ito-Ashikute, Sasugani-Kami-no-Ito-Utsukushigenite-Kakarite-Itaru-wo, Aware-toya-Mitamai-ken）
つとめて
Tsutomete
① early morning ② next moring, early on the next morning
おとど
Otodo
In the case above, おとど may refer to Father of Ochikubo-Hime, Chuunagon.
おはす
Owasu
meaning to go or come, indicating respect by honoring
⇒おはしける（Owashi-keru）＝ meaning went or came, indicating respect by honoring
見たまふ
Mitamau
meaning to see or look at, indicating respect by honoring
In the case above, 見たまふ may mean that Father of Ochikubo-Hime, Chuunagon, sees or looks at the place lower than the surrounding areas given for Ochikubo-Hime.
なり
Nari
① form, shape ② appearance, dress, clothes
悪し
Ashi
state of being bad absolutely or essentially ⇒① bad, wrong ② (of quality or state) unpleasant, inconvenient, hateful ③ (of feelings or physical condition) bad, sick, poor ④ (of weather, character, personality, etc.) rough, violent, reckless ⑤ (of figure, appearance, etc.) ugly, shabby, scruffy ⑥ (of social status) humble, low, (in economic terms) poor ⑦ (of techniques, skills, etc.) poor, bad, unskillful, clumsy, awkward
⇒ いと悪しく（Ito-Ashiku）＝quite shabby
さすがに
Sasugani
despite the statement just made, nevertheless
うつくし
Utsukushi
love or affection directed at ones inferior or junior or little ones or weak ones ⇒① (of person) feeling love, affections, attachments ② (of things) beautiful, fine, superb, splendid, excellent
①⇒③ pretty, lovely and cute/beautiful/handsome
⇒いとうつくしげ（Ito-Utsukushige）＝ very (grately) beautiful just as it is
ゐる
Iru
stay at one place without moving ⇒① sit ② (of birds or insects) pearch, land. settle, sit ③ (of plants, etc.) grow, come into existence ④ (腹がゐる（Hara-ga-Iru）) of anger, etc. to die down, weaken ⑤ keep doing something
①⇒⑥ assume a(n official) rank
⇒ゐたる（Itaru）＝ some state continues
あはれとや
Aware-toya
The writer guesses that Father of Ochikubo-Hime, Chuunagon, may feel pity, sorry, love, affections or attachments for/to her daughter, the Princess.
見たまひけむ
Mitamai-ken
according to the guess of the writer, meaning saw or thought, indicating respet by honoring
The classical Japanese may be similar to English; for example, けむ may be close to “would" in showing a guess but that けむ is said to be always showing a fact in the past. In the case above, けむ is used with the word 見る which is the word meaning an act of seeing, looking at, watching and others in addition to the word たまふ indicating respect by honoring. In this case, 見る can be interpreted as “saw," “looked at," “watched," etc. because 見る is used with けむ. Regarding the third word above, ける (of おはしける) which is a variation of けり which shows (events, things, facts or anything in) the past according to what the speaker hears. おはす is used with ける and thus おはす can be interpreted as “went" or “came."
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Princess Ochikubo would not take the letter from Ukon’no Shoushou, which Akoki opened under the paper candle light; only the traditional Japanese poem was written. It says, “Dear Princess, your heart-breaking story has caught my heart; I cannot forget abou you and I only wish to see you." Although Akoki praised his writing, pretending to talk to herself, the Princess still would not show any interest in it. Unable to do anything more, Akoki put the letter rolled back in the box for combs for the Princess and left.
Upon returning to her place, her husband, Tachiwaki, asked her whether or not the Princess read the letter. “Well, my Princess did not say anything, so I left the letter," said Akoki. “Why? It would be much better than the hell at present. Also we can be of use for them." Tachiwaki’s sincere words seemingly made Akoki share his wish; “Well…. Serious and earnest love for the Princess may reach and move her lost heart."
On the next morning, Father of the Princess looked in at her sunken place on the way back from the nature call; her poor and shabby dress with long hair quite beautifully hanging over her back may have touched even him; apparently having pity on her, he said to the Princess, “Your garment looks worse for wear. I have been concerned about you, but the daughters of the mistress have taken much of my time and trouble. I cannot keep up with your situations. I will admit your decision on any good man as you like. I cannot overlook this plight of you." Nothing came out of the Princess, embarrased, falling silent.
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❗️This English version is only published and available in the websites of おちくぼ物語 in English and in Japanese https://jacl-en.it-is-the-tale.com; https://jacl.it-is-the-tale.com.
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❗️No one may use this English version for any purpose except for reading.